Latest News – September 21

National Hunting and Fishing Day – Saturday, Sept. 24

This Saturday, Sept. 24 is National Hunting and Fishing Day. While many local denizens don’t need a reason to get out and enjoy the great outdoors, nationwide the fourth Saturday in September was established by Congress to recognize hunters and anglers for their leadership in fish and wildlife conservation.

Hunters are good for the economy. They not only purchase hunting gear, trucks, ATVs and boats; they also fill their gas tanks and coolers. They stay at motels and resorts. They buy hunting clothes and those goofy hunting hats with sayings like, “If the Lead Don’t Fly, the Meat Don’t Fry.”

According to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the Centennial State has 919,000 hunters and anglers who spend $1.3 billion annually and support 18,693 jobs. It says a typical hunter spends $1,800 a year on hunting-related activities.

While other places in the state might not appreciate the hunters’ tourism dollars, Lake County is keenly aware of it. And maybe that’s because there is a large population of Leadville hunters, who recognize that wildlife recreation is an important component of the local economy.

Hunters also pay a truckload of special excise taxes, in the form of licenses, fees and equipment. In turn, those funds are earmarked for wildlife and habitat conservation.

And in Lake County, hunting has strong generational ties, with grandpas and granddaughters taking to the trail together, to stock the family’s freezer with fresh game for the winter. Many families rely on their Fall harvest to get them through until Spring! So be sure to get out this Saturday and celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day, but please do so responsibly!

Rifle Hunting Season for elk doesn’t start until October 1, 2014. Photo: David Hahn